Grandiflora rose plant named ‘Meiludere’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Grandiflora rose plant is provided that abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive pink blossoms. A bushy growth habit is displayed and the medium green foliage is semi-glossy. The plant develops well on its own roots in alkaline soil. The disease tolerance is good particularly with respect to Botrytis. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Grandiflora Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meiludere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Grandiflora rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Paloma Blanca’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,853) and the ‘Bucbi’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,225). The ‘Bucbi’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Carefree Beauty’ variety. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Meituraphar’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Meicloux’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meituraphar’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Anne de Bretagne’ variety. (‘Paloma Blanca’×‘Bucbi’)×(‘Meituraphar’×‘Meicloux’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Grandiflora rose plant of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive         pink blossoms,     -   (c) displays semi-glossy medium green foliage,     -   (d) exhibits good tolerance to diseases particularly with         respect to Botrytis,     -   (e) develops well on its own roots in alkaline soil, and     -   (f) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive         ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the blossom coloration is considerably different from that of the ‘Paloma Blanca,’ ‘Meituraphar’ and ‘Meicloux’ varieties. More specially, the ‘Paloma Blanca’ variety forms white blossoms, the ‘Meituraphar’ variety forms deeper pink blossoms, and ‘Meicloux’ variety forms yellow blended with orange blossoms. The blossoms of the new variety possess more petals than those of the ‘Bucbi’ variety and the growth habit is more erect than that of the ‘Bucbi’ variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiludere’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately one-and-one-half year of age and were observed during October while growing on their own roots outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1 — illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5 — illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 7 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 8 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 9 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 10 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 — illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 — illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets — plan view — upper surface;

FIG. 15 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets — plan view — under surface; and

FIG. 16 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets — plan view — upper surface; and

FIG. 17 — illustrates a cluster of unopened floral buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of one-and-one-half-year-old plants during October while growing on their own roots outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Grandiflora. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 110 to 130 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—Approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Habit.—Bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146B. Adult             wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146A.         -   Thorns.—On young stems: small prickles: quantity: none. Long             prickles: configuration: elongated and curved downwards on             the upper surface, concave on the under surface, and with an             oboval and long base. Quantity: approximately 3 on average             on a stem length of 10 cm. Length: ≧0.8 cm. Color: near Red             Group 53B. On adult stems: Small prickles: quantity: none.             Long prickles: configuration: elongated and curved downwards             on the upper surface, concave on the under surface, and with             an oboval and long base. Quantity: approximately 3 on             average on a stem length of 10 cm. Length: ≧0.8 mm. Color:             near Greyed-Orange Group 166A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Stipules.—Smooth texture, adnate, pectinate and rather             broad.         -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Green Group 143C and             Yellow-Green Group 144D in coloration. Under surface: near             Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. Length: approximately             2.5 cm for the terminal leaflet.         -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A in             coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A in             coloration.         -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (mostly often), and 7. Shape:             generally elliptical with a cuspidate tip and an obtuse             base. Size: the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately             7 cm in length and approximately 3.5 cm in width on average.             Serration: small and single (as illustrated). Texture:             physically firm and thick. General appearance: dense, medium             green, and semi-glossy. Color (young foliage): upper             surface: near Green Group 143B. Under surface: near Green             Group 143C. Color (adult foliage): upper surface: near Green             Group 137A. Under surface: near Green Group 138B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly one to four blossoms per stem.         -   Peduncle.—Smooth, approximately 6 cm in length on average,             approximately 0.3 cm in diameter on average, and near             Yellow-Green Group 144B in coloration.         -   Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group             148D in coloration. Under surface: smooth and near Green             Group 143C in coloration. Size: near 3 cm in length on             average, and near 0.7 cm in width at the widest point on             average.         -   Buds.—Shape: conical. Size: medium. Length: approximately             1.5 cm on average. Width: near 1 cm on average at the widest             point. Color: Upper surface: near Orange Group 27D to Red             Group 36C. Under surface: near Red Group 49C and 49D.         -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 11 cm on             average. Color (in the course of opening): upper surface:             near Red Group 36C. Under surface: near Red Group 49C and             near Yellow Group 2C towards the base. Basal petal spot:             near Yellow Group 2C on the upper surface. Color (when fully             open): upper surface: near Red Group 36C. Under surface:             near Red Group 49C and near Yellow Group 2C towards the             base. Basal petal spot: near Yellow Group 2C on the upper             surface. Color stability: substantially no discoloration             with age. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: the blossoms             commonly last approximately 12 days on the plant on average,             and approximately 8 days on average when cut and placed in a             vase. Petal number: approximately 35 on average under normal             growing conditions. Petal shape: cuneiform base with a             substantially rounded tip. Petal texture: consistent and             somewhat firm. Petal base: cuneiform. Petal length:             approximately 4 cm on average. Petal width: approximately 4             cm on average. Petal arrangement: imbricated; and without             petaloids. Petal drop: good with the petals commonly             detaching cleanly. Stamen number: approximately 70 to 75 on             average. Anthers: regularly arranged around the styles,             approximately 0.2 cm in size on average, and near Yellow             Group 13C in coloration. Pollen: present and near Yellow             Group 3C in coloration. Filaments: approximately 0.4 cm in             length on average and near Yellow Group 3D in coloration.             Pistils: approximately 60 to 65 on average. Stigmas:             approximately 0.5 cm in size on average and near             Yellow-Green Group 147D in coloration. Styles: approximately             0.3 cm in length on average, and near Yellow-Green Group             147D in coloration. Receptacle: smooth, pitcher-shaped in             longitudinal section, approximately 0.9 cm in length on             average, approximately 0.8 cm in width on average at the             widest point, and near Yellow-Green Group 144B in             coloration. Hips: none observed during observations to date. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Very strong.         -   Blooming.—Early, very abundant, and nearly continuous.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good, particularly with respect to             Botrytis.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—None observed. 

1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant characterized by the following characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive pink blossoms, (c) displays semi-glossy medium green foliage, (d) exhibits good tolerance to diseases particularly with respect to Botrytis, (e) develops well on its own roots in alkaline soil, and (f) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described. 